Mild Orange

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Image courtesy of Sala Apolo

A breezy jangle-pop band from New Zealand's South Island, Mild Orange rode a mellow wave of viral success in 2018 when their self-released debut, Foreplay, was streamed into the millions. Their grassroots success helped build a global fan base for their 2020 follow-up.

Formed in Dunedin in 2016 by childhood friends Josh Mehrtens (vocals, guitar) and Josh Reid (guitar), the two were later joined by bassist Tom Kelk and drummer Jack Ferguson. Choosing the name Mild Orange for the color's ability to inspire "a heightened sense of optimism," the group's chilled-out beachy dream-pop struck a chord with fans, many of whom first discovered the band thanks to their spot on a Corona Extra New Zealand national tour and an appearance at the New Year's Eve Rhythm and Vines festival. 

Taking a DIY bedroom pop approach, their first album, Foreplay, was produced, engineered, and mixed by Merhtens. Released independently in 2018, it yielded several streaming hits including "Some Feeling" and "Stranger." After touring the album, they set about recording their eponymous follow-up, which was released in May 2020.

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